Rail-joint.



No. 782,057. PATENTED FEB. 7, 1905. J. M. RIGGS.

RAIL JOINT.

APPLICATION nun) JULY 8, 1904.

luucuroz Q/vilmmaw Patented February '7, 1905.

ATENT FFICE.

JAMES M. RIGGS, OF SEABROOK, TEXAS.

RAIL-JOINT.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 782,057, dated February 7', 1905,

Application filed July 8, 1904. Serial No. 215,766.

To all Il'/I !)'/ib it [)bf/f/ concern: I

Be it known that I, Janus M. RIGGS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Seabrook. in the county of Harris and State of Texas, have invented new and useful Improvements in Rail-Joints, ofwhich the following is a specification.

My invention relates to rail-joints; and its object to provide simple means for securing together and supporting the ends of rails so as to prevent pounding by car-wheels passing thereover.

The invention consists of a base having inwardly-eXtending holding-strips which extend longitudinally thereof and are integral therewith. These strips are adapted to overlap the base-flanges of rails adjacent the adjoining ends thereof and to hold fish-plates against the webs of the rails, said fish-plates being adapted to contact with and support the heads of the rails at their adjoining ends.

The invention further consists of' the novel construction and combination of parts hereinafter more fully set forth, and pointed out in the claim.

In the accompanyingdrawings I have shown the preferred form of my invention.

Referring to said drawings, Figure l is a perspective view of my improved rail-joint. Fig. is a similar view of the base-plate, and Fig. 3 is a transverse section through the joint and showing one of the rails in elevation.

Referring to the figures by numerals of reference, 1 is a base-plate having inwardlycurved holding-strips .2 arranged longitudinally thereupon and integral therewith, and these strips are'located at points between and remote from the side edges of the base-plate and are adapted to receive therebetween the base-flanges 3 of the rails to be connected. Xotches i are formed in the side edges of the 1 base-plate for the reception of spikes 5 or other j securing devices. Fish-plates 6 are arranged at opposite sides of and contact with the webs 7 of the rails, and these fish-plates rest upon the base-flanges 3 and contact with the lower faces of the heads 8 of the rails, thereby fori'ning supports therefor. The fish-plates are secured in position by bolts 9 in thej usual manner, and their lower edges are 10- i cated between the webs T and the edges of the strips 2. Said strips serve to prevent displacement of the lish-pla'tes in the event of the removal of one or more of the securing devices 9.

In assembling the parts of the rail-joint the chair formed by the base-plate 1 and the strips 2 is placed upon the flanges 3 of one of the rails. After the two rails to be joined have been placed together the fish-plates 6 are secured to opposite sides of webs T and fit snugly upon the flanges 3 and the lower faces of the heads 8. The chair is then moved longitudinally upon the base-flanges until it assumes a position upon the flanges of both rails and with its holding-strips 2 at opposite sides of the tislpplates 6. Spikes 5 or other securing devices are then placed in engagement with the notches and the joiningof the rails is completed.

It will be seen that by employing a joint such as herein described the rails are securely held together and their ends supported so as to prevent sagging and the resultant pounding of car-wheels passing over them. oreover, the fish-plates serve as additional supports for the railheads,and the rails are therefore considerably strengthened at their point of connection. The edges of the holdingstrips 2 fit snugly upon the lish-plates, and therefor these plates are held in position thereby as well as by the securing devices 9.

In the foregoing description I have shown the preferred formof my invention; but I do not limit myself thereto, as I am aware that modifications may be made therein without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages thereof, and I therefore reserve the right to make such changes as fairly fall within the scope of my invention.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is in a rail-joint, a pair of rails having meeting ends and each comprising a web and base flanges, fish-plates attached to the rail-webs at opposite sides of the latter, the base-plate formed in one piece and extended longitudinally beneath the rails at their meeting ends, and retaining-strips formed integral with the base-plate and overlapping the base-flanges of the rails, said strips being continuous signed to bear upon the outer faces of the fish- [0 throughout the entire length of the plate and plates at their lower edges only.

disposed between and remote from the side In testimony whereofl aflix my signature in edges of the latter to produce projecting horipresence of two witnesses.

5 zontal flanges, the latter flanges being also continuous throughout the entire length of JAMES RIGGS' the plate and having spike-receiving recesses WVitnesses arranged at appropriate intervals and the in- J NO. B. WILL'roME,

ner edges of the retaining-strips being de- L. E. REED. 

